How to Visit

Image of the Black Heritage Trail® signs located throughout the Beacon Hill neighborhood to help guide visitors.

Boston African American National Historic Site offers students insight into an important part of Boston history and an opportunity to learn about the multidimensional narratives of the city. The Black Heritage Trail^® preserves and protects significant resources associated with the the fight for equal education, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Abolitionism, the Underground Railroad, and the role of African Americans in the Civil War.

Organizing a trip for your class can be difficult and we are here to help! There are three ways to experience Boston African American National Historic Site:

• Self-guided walking tour
• Museum of African American History visit
• An NPS facilitated program

 

Student sharing out what they learned about Frederick Douglass while self-guiding themselves along the Black Heritage Trail®

Matt Teuten

Self-Guided Walking Tour of the Black Heritage Trail^®

The most popular way to visit the Black Heritage Trail^® is to explore Beacon Hill at your own pace. The easiest way to explore the trail is using our Self-Guided Audio Tour on our free National Park Service app! Maps with descriptions of the sites along the trail are also available at the Museum of African American History (46 Joy St) or at our Visitor Center in Faneuil Hall. To request maps be mailed, email your mailing address to e-mail us. Please make this request at least two weeks in advance of your visit.

Note: Historic homes on the Black Heritage Trail^® are private residences and not open to the public. Please respect the privacy of homeowners.

 

Visiting the Museum of African American History

The Museum of African American History is the non-profit partner that operates two historically significant sites on the North Slope of Beacon Hill, the African Meeting House and the adjacent Abiel Smith School, as well as the Nantucket African Meeting House and Boston-Higginbottom House on Nantucket. Boston’s African Meeting House, one of the oldest black churches still standing in the country today, was where the black community worshiped and organized to advance the cause of freedom for almost 100 years. The Abiel Smith School currently serves as exhibit space for the Museum. Historically it was home to one of the oldest public schools in the country dedicated to the education of black children.

The Museum offers both facilitated and self-guided experiences. To learn more or make a reservation, please visit the maah.org or call [phone], ext. 29. Admission includes visits to both the African Meeting House and the Abiel Smith School.

 

Park staff discussing Boston’s reaction to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 outside of the Lewis and Harriet Hayden House.

Matt Teuten

NPS Facilitated Programs

Visiting the Black Heritage Trail^® with NPS staff is another popular way for your class to experience the park. NPS staff facilitate a limited number of free guided tours of the Black Heritage Trail^®. We offer programming seasonally from late spring through October. These programs are available on a first come, first served basis.

If you are interested in a NPS facilitated program for your class, please email us. When making your inquiry please provide the following information:

1. Your name, phone number, and email address
2. Your school
3. Grade level
4. Number of students/adults attending
5. Preferred dates and times
6. Explanation how it fits into your curriculum

While we work in tandem with the Museum of African American History on several program, each of us book our programs separately. If you would like to book a Black Heritage Trail^® tour with us and visit the Museum, you will need to book each program individually. To learn more about visiting the Museum or to make a reservation, please visit their website or call them at [phone], ext. 29.